Bridge scoring device



Sept. 12, 1939. A. G. HATCH 2,172,508

BRIDGE SCORING DEVICE Filed July 2, 1935 5 sheets-shed 1 FIG. 3.

: sco EABOVE INE ILOW INE 22 Z I l 3090 TM.

INVENTOR HIV/YE if/ATC/f Sept. 12, 1939. A. G. HATCH 2,172,508

BRIDGE SCORING DEVICE I Filed July 2, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGA. H!

INVENTOR A/V/VE Gil/A7634 -BY g ATTORNEY Sgpt. 12, 1939. A G. HATCHBRIDGE SCORING DEVICE Filed July 2, i955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGS.

INVENTOR N A/V/VE 4 row ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRIDGESCORING DEVICE Anne G. Hatch,

Bronxville, N. Y.

Application July 2, 1935, Serial No. 29,444

11 Claims.

The invention relates in general to a bridge score indicating device foruse by a scorer for indicating to the players at the table as well as tohimself the current suit and number of tricks bid, as well as the statusof the bid, whether vulnerable, doubled and the like, and also forindicating to himself the proper numerical value authorized to be placedabove and below the line on the score pad when the indicator is set tothe number of undertricks or overtricks made at the conclusion of thecurrent game. It will show the board that the score is being calculatedon the proper basis.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simplified, easilymanipulated and accurate indicating form of device of the type outlinedand which may be easily and quickly set to show the bid and incidentalstatus of the winrnng side on the side facing the board and which willautom atically indicate on the opposite side facing the scorer when setby him to register the number of over or under tricks, the propernumerical value to be marked above and below the line on the finalscoring pad.

The invention has for another object the providing of notice impellingdesignations to signal to the scorer or operator that certain numbershave a relatively negative significance that is to be credited to thelosers of the original bidding.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in partobvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and in part willbe more fuly set forth in the following particular description of oneform of indicating device embodying the invention, and the inventionalso consists in certain new and novel features of construction andcombination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a View in front elevation, that is, on the side facing thescorer, of a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a corresponding view in rear elevation of the opposite sidefacing the board, players or observers;

Fig. 3 is a plan view looking down upon the showing in the precedingfigures;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the medial planeaxially of the rotors indicated by the line 44 of Fig. 3 looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the planeindicated by the line 5-5 of Fig looking in the direction indicated bythe arrows;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the upper right hand portion. of thecasing shown in Fig. 4 and with the adjacent rotor removed;

Figs. '7 and 8 are developed views in plan of the cylindrical surfacesrespectively of the left and 5 right hand drums shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 9 is a developed plan view of the curved shield shown in section inFigs. 4 and 5.

Referring particularly to the showing of the containing casing ill inthe several figures, it 10 will be noted from Fig. 5 that it is ofsomewhat semi-cylindrical form with the opposing straight vertical sidesH and I2 between the Wide lower edges of which is fitted a block formbase l3 and which casing includes oppositely disposed ends l4 and I5.provided respectively with circular end openings l6 and I1. Each of thesides 14 and i5 is provided with an inwardly extending annular flange l8providing at their inner peripheries external bearings for rotorshereinafter described, and providing on their outer peripheries abearing for mounting opposite edges of a shield hereinafter described.

The side of the casing facing the scorer, as shown in Fig. 1, isprovided with three windows disposed in line. The right hand window ismarked above the same Score below line; the middle window 2| is markedthereabove Score above line and the third, relatively narrow window 22,sometimes hereinafter referred to as the Trick Number window, is markedon opposite sides Under Tricks and Over Tricks.

On the opposite side of the casing, that is, the side facing the boardas indicated in Fig. 2, there is provided two aligned windows, the oneat the 35 right 23 corresponding to the window 22 and offset from theadjacent side l6 a distance greater than the distance the window 22 isspaced, by an amount equal to one of the columns hereinafter described.The other window 24 in line with window 23, designated as the Bid windowhas its right hand part, if transversely projected, overlapping part ofthe window 2|.

The front side of the casing as shown in Fig. l is provided with avertically disposed slot 25 and in which is a shield actuating thumbpiece 26. An edge of the slot 25 is preferably provided with aplurality, in the instant case shown to be six, equidistantly spacedstops, recesses or grooves 27 for receiving a spring pressed detent 28carried on the adjacent side of the finger piece 26.

Referring to the interior structure within the casing, there is shown inFig. 4 two rotors 29 and 30 mounted for rotary movement about a commonaxis indicated by the line ab and each provided with an outwardly andaxially projecting knob designated respectively 35, 32, and locatedrespectively in the openings IS and H. In each case the knob knurled asindicated at 33 to facilitate manual rotation of the associated rotor.In the illustrated embodiment the rotors are mounted for independentrotary movement and mounted in the external bearing provided by theflanges l8 and are maintained in their pressed apart relation andresiliently forced into engagement with the sides It and [5 by means ofa shaft 34 projecting integrally from rotor 29 and having its outer endintruded into a bore 35 formed in the hub of rotor 30. An anti-frictionball roller 36 with spring 3! bearing on the ball is located in the bore35 and tends to press the rotors apart and into engagement with thesides M and Hi. In order to set the rotors into their rotatably adjustedpositions against accidental displacement from any position in whichthey may be set by the operator, it is herein suggested that the innerwall of the ends l5 and I6 and the edge portion of the rotors 29engaging the same be knurled, corrugated or roughened, as indicated at38, preferably to correspond to definite positions of the rotors.

The rotor 29 is provided with a cylindrical drum 40 which projectstherefrom towards the other rotor 30 and the rotor 30 is provided with adrum 4|, the left hand edge portion of which overlaps the right handedge portion of the drum 40 as shown in Fig. 4. The cylindrical surfacesof the two drums are provided with columns of bridge scoring indices,status data, bid indicating data and blocks of opaque and transparentareas in the overlapping portion of the drum 4!, as will be hereinafterdescribed with specific reference to Figs. '7 and 8.

Positioned between the drum and the two lines of sight windows in thecasing is a shield t2 of a little less than complete cylindrical form asshown in Fig. 5 and mounted for limited rocking movement about the axisab.

Referring to the developed showing of this shield in Fig. 9, it will benoted that it is provided 'with a plurality of openings for selectivelyexposing to view certain indicia and data and simultaneously concealingfrom view certain other indicia and data on the portion of the drumsframed in the several sight openings in the different rotative positionsof the drums. At one of the limiting positions of the drum, that is onthe end facing the windows 23 and fi l and shown at the upper portion ofFig. 9, there are found two long parallel openings, the left narrow slit43 adapted to expose the trick numbers hereinafter described through thewindow 23 and the relatively wider slit 44 disposed to disclose bid datathrough the left hand part of window 24 as shown in Fig. 2. It is notedthat adjacent the window 44 are writings disposed in six lines;sometimes referred to hereinafter as Status Designations, and in theinstant case reading from the adjacent edge ReD Vul, Dbl V111, and Vul,on one half of the slot and Not Vul, Dbl NV, and ReD NV on the otherhalf. These several status indications are designed to be exposedselectively through the right hand side of window 24 depending uponwhich of the fixed selective positions the shield may be shifted by themanipulation back and forth of the thumb piece 26.

Referring to the lower portion of the shield as shown in Fig. 9, it isprovided adjacent its left edge and out of line with slot 43 with acorrespondingly long slot l6 adapted to register with the window 22. Atthe lower right hand side of this figure (9) is a T shaped slot ll withits head portion extending parallel to the slot as and similarlydesignated with the same status identifying designations 68 having sucha relation with the esignations at the slot M as to be upside-downrelative thereto and symmetrically disposed. In other words ReD Vul isat the upper end of slot 4? but is at the lower end of slot M as viewedV in Fig. 9. Adjacent slot t! the shield is provided with other blockshaped openings 5! adapted to register with the right hand side ofwindow 20 and the openings are so arranged that each line of opening isdifferently arranger .1 the open-- ings in every other line and arrangedto co operate selectively with the proper numerals in the three righthand columns of the showing in Fig. 8.

Adjacent the center of the lower portion of shield 42 is a stepped formof opening 5i adapted to register with the right hand side of the window2! and with a plurality of openings in relatively staggered relationdesignated collec tively as 52 and in each case Jrovided with two zerocharacters 53 for cooperating with the bonus score values on the chartshown in Fig. 7 as hereinafter described.

Referring to the chart on cylinder 40 and specifically to the developedshowing thereof in Fig. 7, the surface is divided into a plurality ofcircumferentially extending parallel columns with printing thereindisposed in succeeding lines parallel to the axis of rotation of therotors. There is provided a longitudinally extending blank space t lhereinafter sometimes referred to as the neutral position on which thereis no printing but at the left side there is shown a pointing character55. The two left hand columns extending the entire length are referredto hereinafter as trick number columns with the left hand column 55registering with window 22 and provided with two sets of numberspositioned on opposite sides of the neutral position 5 3 and progressingtherefrom. one set extending upwardly and designating from I to I15, andthe other set progressing downwardly and numbered from 9 to 6. Thesecond column is likewise provided with two sets of numbers, one setfrom i to 6 and the other set from I to E3, with the space 58 in thissecond column blank in its position parallel to the set of numbers fromI to 6 in the column 56. The figures in the column 5i are reversed inposition, that is, are in an upside-down position relative to thefigures in column 56. The up-side-down figures of column El whenregistering in window 23 will, of course, be in the upright positionshown in Fig. 2. To the right of column. 57 and above neutral positions56 are arranged six columns 58 containing penalty score figures having aprefixed relative relation or value designated by bridge authorities torepresent values of the number of tricks designated in the left handcolumn 55. It is understood that the numerals appearing in the fivecolumns to the left thereof are used only in conjunction with the doublezeros '53 appearing in the shield (Fig. 9) adjacent the openings 52. Thetwo right hand colurnns 59 and 68 above the neutral positions 54opposite the l to I53 set of figures are provided with arrows pointingto the left. It is herein suggested that the penalty figures of thescale above the neutral position 5 be formed of a red or some othercolor vividly contrasting with the other numbers present on Fig. '7. Tothe right of column 51 and below the neutral position 54 are arrangedeight columns in the following manner. As viewed in the figure, threesets of numbers of two columns each showing bonus score figures having aprefixed relative relation, a value designated by bridge authorities torepresent values of the number of tricks designated in the left handcolumn 56. It is understood that the numerals shown in the two left handsets of columns are used only in conjunction with the double zeros 53appearing on the shield (Fig. 9) adjacent the openings 52. These sets ofnumerals are separated by columns showing arrows pointing to the right.It is appreciated that by rotating the left knob 33 any left hand columnnumbered line is brought into registration with windows 22 and 2| andthat the identical figure indicating the tricks designated in thecorresponding sets in column 51 are simultaneously brought into registrywith the windows 23.

Referring to the drum 4| and to the scale shown in Fig. 8 which may bereferred to as the bid scale, it is similarly provided with printingmatter to form' three right hand columns 62 of trick values apportionedby the bridge authorities to the bid designations in the next adjacentcolumn 63. In column 63 the different bids beginning with the lowest bidof One Club are arranged in order of progressively increasing values toSeven No Trump. In the next adjacent column 64 to the left of 63 isprovided similar bid designations arranged in an up-sidedown relation tothe showing of the characters in column 63 and likewise progressing,considered circumferentially of the drum, and from one point thereinwith characters of increasing value. The characters in the columns 63and 64 are arranged relative to their coacting sight windows 20 and 24so that identical characters are simultaneously displayed through thewindows on the opposite sides of the casing and in their correct uprightpositions as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The left edge portion of the right hand drum shown in Fig. 8 and whichis the overlapping portion of the cylinder 4| as shown in Fig. 4 isformed of alternate blocks or sections of transparent areas 65 andopaque areas 66 arranged so that as any selected line is moved intoregistry with the window 2| either a transparent or an opaque block 65will overlap and thus either display or conceal whichever character incolumn 59 may happen for the time being to be registering with window2|. Likewise, in every rotated position of Fig. 8, either an opaque or atransparent portion of the column 66 will be exposing or concealingeither the arrow or one of the figures for the time being registeringwith the window 2|.

It is thus seen that the particular group of characters exposed throughthe different windows is dependent upon three controllable factors;first, upon the rotative position of the rotor 29; second, upon therotative position of the rotor 30; and third, upon the position intowhich the shield is rocked at any particular setting of the device.

For instance, in the exemplary showing in the several figures, the finalbid was Three Hearts, the bidding side was not vulnerable and if thebidding side should win, they are entitled to a score of 90 below theline as indicated in window 20. In the illustrated case, they did notmake the contract but were two tricks short and the indicator thus showsby the red character 100 in window 2| that the opponents were entitledto a score of 100 above the line. These readings were obtained first bythe manipulation of the thumb piece 26 until the Not Vul indicationappeared in windows 20 and 24. Then by the rotation of the right handknob 32, the operator rotated the scale of Fig. 8 until the designation.of Three Hearts appeared in both of the windows 20 and 24. This alsoautomatically and by virtue of the stem portion of the T shaped slot 4!brought the 90 into registry with the window 20 and the device remainedas thus set Three Hearts, 90, Not Vul, until the conclusion of the game.

At the conclusion of the game, and in the instant case, the winners ofthe bid having failed by two tricks to make their contract, the scorerrotates the left hand drum counterclockwise as viewed looking into theleft end of the casing in Fig. 1, by the manipulation of the handle 33until the red 2 in the upper part of the chart of Fig. 7 registers inboth of the windows 22 and 23 and at the same time by the combination ofthe form of the opening 5|, the penalty score of 100 for the opponentsappears adjacent the middle of window 2|.

It will thus be seen that by means of the device disclosed it ispossible simply by rotating the right hand knob to indicate thesuccessive bids of the different sides or playing couples and with eachbid there is simultaneously presented at least to the scorer the belowthe line value of that particular bid, and eventually when the biddingis finished the final bid designation with the score at that bid and thestatus of the bid, vulnerable, etc., is permitted to remain until thegame is concluded and the score is entered on the final score pads. Asthe bidding progresses the scorer by manipulating the thumb piece 26indicates other data such as whether the bidding side is vulnerable orwhether there is a double or redouble at the different steps of thebidding and at the final bid.

The final set position of the shield, of course, controls the scorevalue to which the winning side is entitled in the different vulnerable,doubled, and redoubled situations and which are indicated respectivelyin the columns 62.

By the simple manipulation of the left hand rotor to the red positionthe characters in the case of undertricks or to the black position ofthe characters in the case of overtricks, only the proper score value isautomatically and promptly presented to the scorer, thus avoiding anynecessity of the checking of the score with approved reference tables asis usual in card tournament events.

While there have been shown, described, and pointed out in the annexedclaims, certain novel features of the invention, it will be understoodthat various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form anddetails of the bridge score indicating device illustrated and in itsoperation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A bridge score indicating device including a mechanism containingcasing provided with sides facing in opposite directions, one sideprovided with windows arranged in line and designated a trick numberwindow, a score above line window and a score below line window, and theother side provided with two windows arranged in line and designated atrick Window and a bid window with an end of the bid Window whentransversely projected lapping the score above line window on the otherside and the trick number windows being both adjacent one end of thecasing, two cylinders mounted for independent rotary movement in thecasing, one for each score window, and an end of one cylinder providedwith transparent and opaque blocks lapping the adjacent end of the othercylinder and registering with the laterally projecting lapping portionsof the bid and score above line windows, each cylinder provided on itscylinder surface with a plurality of columns of bridge indicia arrangedin lines and each line adapted to register with their respective scoreabove line and score below line windows, two of the columns on thecylinder adjacent the trick windows being each provided with consecutivenumbers one to thirteen arranged in relatively reverse order and adaptedto be rotated with the associated cylinder to expose selectively thesame number in the two trick number windows, and an opaque shieldmounted for rocking movement about said axis, disposed between thecylinders and the part of the casing provided with the windows and p-rovided with variously positioned openings for selectively exposing andconcealing certain of the indicia on the cylinders as the shield isshifted relative to the casing windows.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casingprovided with a score above the line window and a score below the linewindow, a pair of cylinders one for each window mounted for rotarymovement about a common axis and each provided with circumferentiallyarranged colulnns of score indicia arranged in equi-width linesextending parallel to said axis and each line adapted to be rotated intoposition to register with its associated window, and an opaque shieldprovided with a plurality of lines of sight openings, the sight openingof each line being differentl arranged from the sight opening of everyother line and said shield disposed in adjusted position over theportions of both of the cylinders registering with the windowsselectively to expose certain of the cylinder indicia while concealingother of the cylinder indicia in the line of each cylinder for the timebeing registering with its respective window, said shield beingshiftable in both directions from a mean position in the direction ofthe length of the columns and said shield having similar indicia thereonequidistantly spaced on opposite sides of a line of reference, the dataon one side having a positive value, such as vul. and the correspondingdata on the other side having a relatively negative value such as notvul.

3. A bridge score indicating device comprising a casin two cylindersmounted therein for independent rotary movement about a common axis andhaving edge portion of one overlapping an edge portion of the other,said cylinders provided on their cylinder surfaces with a plurality oicircumierentially extending columns of bridge scoring and bridge biddingindicia arranged in equi-width lines parallel to the axis, theoverlapping portion forming two columns of blank sections, one of thetwo column sections of each overlapping line being transparent to exposean indicia beneath the same on the overlapped portion and the othercolumn section being opaque to conceal the indicia beneath on theoverlapped portion or" the other cylinder and said casing provided withtwo long narrow windows having a width equal to that of the lines, onefor each cylinder, extending parallel to said common axis and eachadapted to frame a line or part of a line of indicia on its associatedcylinder and one of the windows disposed to expose the overlappingportion, and an opaque shield mounted for a limited rocking motion aboutsaid axis and provided with lines of apertures, variously locatedrelative to exposed columns of indicia on the cylinders and actingselectively as it is shifted relative to the windows to expose certainindicia through the windows and the opaque portion of the shield actingto conceal other indicia which would otherwise be exposed through thewindows.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casingprovided with two windows arranged on opposite sides thereof and facingin opposite directions, a cylinder provided on its cylinder surface withtwo parallel columns of characters representing card bids, with thecharacters in one column upside down relative to the characters in theother column, the value of the bids progressively increasing in onecolumn as read down the column and the value of the bids progressivelydecreasing as read down the other column and said windows locatedrelative to the cylinder so that when the cylinder is rotated into anyposition the same bid character registers in both windows so as to bevisible from opposite sides of the casing, and said. cylinder providedwith other parallel columns provided with figures corresponding tovalues assigned to the different bids indicated in one of said bidcolumns, under different controlling conditions and an adjustable shieldoverlapping the other parallel columns and having a plurality ofpositions into which it may be shifted and said shield provided withboth opaque and non-obstructing portions selectively covering andexposing certain of said figures in the last mentioned parallel columnsdepending on. the position into which the shield is shifted.

5. A bridge score indicating device comprising a casing, two cylindersmounted therein for independent rotary movement about a common axis andhaving an edge portion of one overlapping an edge portion. of the other,said cylinders provided on their cylinder surfaces with a plurality ofcircumferentially extending columns of bridge scoring and bridge biddingindicia arranged in equi-width lines parallel to the axis, theoverlapping portion forming two columns of blank sections, one of thetwo column sections of each overlapping line exposing indicium beneaththe same on the overlapped portion and the other column section beingopaque to conceal the indicium beneath on the overlapped portion of theother cylinder and said casing provided with two long narrow windowshaving a width equal to that of the lines, one for each cylinder,extending parallel to said common axis and each adapted to contain aline or part of a line of indicia on its associated cylinder and one ofthe windows disposed to expose the overlapping portion.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casingprovided with a score above the line window and a score below the linewindow, a pair of cylinders one for each window mounted for rotarymovement about a common axis and each provided with circumferentiallyarranged columns of score indicia arranged in equi-width lines extendingparallel to said axis and each line adapted to be rotated into positionto register with its associated window, and an opaque shield providedwith a plurality of lines of sight openings, the sight opening of eachline being difierently arranged from the sight opening of every otherline and said shield disposed in selectively adjusted position over theportions of both of the cylinders registering with the windows to exposecertain of the cylinder indicia While concealing other of the cylinderindicia in the line of each cylinder which for the time being isregistering with its respective window.

7. In a bridge score indicating device, the combination of two cylindersmounted for rotary movement about a common axis and each provided on itscylinder surface with a plurality of columns of indicia arranged inlines, a casing provided with a pair of sight windows, each adapted toframe certain of the lines of indicia on one of the cylinders and ashield positioned between the cylinders and the windows and having aplurality of set positions, the shield provided with a plurality ofdifferently arranged openings, one registering with one of the windowsin one set position of the shield and acting when in such set positionto expose certain of the indicia on the cylinder and to conceal othersuch indicia in the lines which would otherwise be exposed through thewindow.

8. In a bridge score indicating device, the combination of a casingprovided with a pair of trick number windows facing in oppositedirections and provided on one side with a score window, a cylindermounted in the casing for rotation about its axis and provided on itscylinder surface with a plurality of columns of bridge score figuresarranged in lines to register with the score window and also providedwith two columns of numbers, one of the columns located to pass one ofthe trick number windows and the other column located to pass the othertrick number window, the numbers in one column being arranged in twosets, one set increasing progressively from one to six and located onone side of a neutral position and from one to thirteen on the otherside, and the figures in the other trick column being upside downrelative to the figures in the first trick column, said other trickcolumn being blank in the space parallel to the set of one to sixnumbers in the first column, the numbers in the other column being alsoarranged in two sets, one set with the figures progressing from one tosix and the other set progressing from one to thirteen and the fingersin the two number columns coacting with the location of the trick numberwindows to cause the identical number in the corresponding set toregister simultaneously with both number windows.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of two cylindersmounted for rotary movement about a common axis with an edge portion ofone cylinder overlapping an edge portion of the other cylinder and saidoverlapping portion having opaque and transparent sections forselectively concealing and exposing the overlapped portion of the othercylinder, each cylinder provided on its cylindrical surface with aplurality of columns of indicia arranged in lines parallel to said axis,a casing provided with at least three line framing windows, at least onefor each cylinder, and one of the windows located to expose to view theoverlapping portions of the two cylinders.

10. In a bridge score indicating device, the combination of a pluralityof windows, a plurality of manually controlled cylinders independentlymovable relative to each other to register at will with the severalwindows bridge scoring data on their cylindrical surfaces, and shieldingmeans provided with openings for exposing selectively difierent parts ofthe data for the time being registering with one of the windows andprovided with opaque portions for concealing selectively difierent partsof the data which for the time being is registering with another of saidwindows.

11. In a bridge score indicating device including means having a pair ofsight windows facing in opposite directions, a strip on one side of thewindows provided with three columns of bridge score data arranged inlines in prefixed relative order and adapted to be shifted at will tocause lines of the same selected data to register with the windows, thedata of two columns being arranged on the strip in cooperative relationwith the pair of windows to cause the same data to be exposedsimultaneously through each window and a third window with which thedata of the third column registers, said third window being arrangedrelative to the said pairs of sight windows to expose to view dataassociated in bridge score values with the data simultaneously exposedthrough the pair of windows.

ANNE G. HATCH.

